Easing Toward an Election in Philadelphia

By MICHAEL JANOFSKY

Published: October 29, 1995

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 27—
Mayor Edward G. Rendell has a zillion stories he likes to tell that reflect the changes in Philadelphia during his first term in office. One of his favorites:

Last year, Conde Nast Traveler magazine set out to find the friendliest of 10 major American cities. Among 12 test questions, residents in the cities were asked to change $1, police officers were asked to take a picture, shopkeepers were asked for a Yellow Pages directory and bartenders were asked for a glass of water.

With one test to go, Philadelphia and San Francisco were tied," Mr. Rendell said, recounting the story for public school food-service workers at a state convention here this week. "The last task was to go up to a cabdriver and say: 'My car is broken down and I need some jumper cables. Can you help me?' "

All the cabdrivers in San Francisco refused to help, and so did all but one in Philadelphia. "The last one said yes," the Mayor said, beaming, and that's how Philadelphia won the title.

Given the time, Mr. Rendell could spend another four-year term spinning out ways to show Philadelphia as a city that feels good about itself, and judging from the changes since he won election in 1991 and the popularity he has achieved as a result, he will probably get it.

While Philadelphia is just one of 40 big cities with a mayoral election on Nov. 7, few candidates or incumbents anywhere are expected to win with the ease predicted for Mr. Rendell.

"It's not so much if he'll win, but by what margin," said Randall Miller, a political science professor at St. Joseph's University here. "This is a two-term guy. The only question is, Where does he go after this?"

A Democrat and former district attorney, Mr. Rendell, 51, is opposed by Joseph Rocks, a Republican former State Senator, and by two minor-party candidates. The son of a firefighter, Mr. Rocks, 48, has been endorsed by police and firefighter unions, but has not appeared to excite enough voters to bring about an upset even with the promise of a big wage-tax cut, the major thrust of his campaign. Democrats have held City Hall for 44 consecutive years.

Independent polls show Mr. Rendell far ahead, and much of the reason is the enormous energy and enthusiasm he brings to the job -- even when he is not campaigning. A natural schmoozer, he thrives on dashing about the city, visiting neighborhood groups, giving awards and making speeches. After an hourlong candidates' debate on Thursday night, he made three more stops before calling it a night, close to 11 o'clock. On weekends, his schedule includes as many as 20 events a day.

Not even Mr. Rocks has been immune to Rendell fever, acknowledging that last year, before he was a candidate, he asked Mr. Rendell for a job as a lobbyist.

But unlike big-city mayors who shake hands and kiss babies for show, Mr. Rendell has much to be proud of. During his administration, the city has raised its bond rating from junk status to investment grade, the last years have produced budget surpluses with no layoffs or tax increases, downtown is flush with new projects, libraries are open six days a week for the first time in memory, and voters say they have noticed a new spirit all about.

"There was always so much negative about Philadelphia," said Kathy Middleton, 39, a food-service worker who has lived in Philadelphia all her life. "You always saw things going down. There was no new life. But now, it's wonderful. He has brought the city back to life."

Philadelphia is not without its problems. Federal budget cuts could cost the city as much as $100 million by 1997, Mr. Rendell said, if the final legislation resembles the bill passed by the House this week. Also, police officials are investigating corruption in the department; the city's population, now 1.6 million, continues to shrink, and municipal workers, particularly police, are grousing because their salaries have remained stagnant for years.

In addition, Mr. Rocks has attacked Mr. Rendell with the criticism that he has focused too much money and energy on downtown commercial and institutional projects at the expense of neighborhood needs, an accusation Mr. Rendell dismisses. And some voters in low-income neighborhoods say Mr. Rendell ignores them.

"We have a new Marriott hotel," he said. "Who do you think works there? People from the neighborhoods, that's who.

"But you can't do everything," he said. "Look, it's what you expect in a campaign. If I found a cure for cancer, they'd criticize me for not finding a cure for AIDS."

The campaign has produced few fireworks. But even if Mr. Rendell wins with the large margin expected, he still faces some political risk if, as many voters believe, he has designs on running for governor or the United States Senate after his second-term as Mayor. Mr. Miller, the political science professor, said Mr. Rendell would need a big turnout and a big victory to help maintain his viability.

But both Mr. Rendell and his chief of staff, David Cohen, deny that the Mayor has made any plans beyond the next four years. Mr. Cohen was not even certain his boss would be suited for higher office.

"He only cares about one thing," Mr. Cohen said. "So for him, he's already found the perfect job."

Photo: Philadelphia's mayoral race has several candidates but only one likely scenario, re-election for Edward G. Rendell, center. Also running are Lance Haver of the Consumer Party, left, and Joseph Rocks, a Republican. (Bill Cramer for The New York Times)